This week, we'll take a look at TheHunger Project, a non-profit organization with headquarters in New York that aims to eliminate world hunger by implementing sustainable programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The Hunger Project (you can visit their official Web site at www.thp.org) was established in 1977 and continues strong today.Instead of focusing on direct relief, THP comes at the problem of world hunger from a different angle: its programs strive to give Third World inhabitants the self-reliance and empowerment they need to make their own lives better and pass on that knowledge to their children.This means demonstrating self-sustaining farming techniques, teaching people whose educational opportunities are scant, and creating partnerships with governments to keep the programs sustainable.

THP sees the hungry people it serves not as beneficiaries of a social service, but as creative, hardworking individuals who simply do not have the resources and opportunities to develop their societies and countries.Volunteers enter a community and have village-wide meetings to craft a vision for the future, which they then help the inhabitants carry out by providing expertise and skills.Large emphasis is placed on literacy and nutrition.

Here are some of the ways THP has mobilized their volunteers and sparked community-wide change:

-Creating community centers that provide everything from HIV/AIDS care to adult literacy to water sanitation.

-Launching effective campaigns against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

-Honoring African leadership.

-Strengthening female leaders in India.

-Implementing microfinance projects in Third World countries.

Recently, THP has been under public scrutiny for removing articles and information critical of the project from the internet.It has also received criticism about its lack of direction action and its heightened focus on advocacy, which some consider to be an inactive form of assistance.The organization has not been sending out a spokesperson to news organizations trying to cover it, something the public has regarded as suspect.However, there are no huge controversies over THP.

THP is one of the most well-known anti-hunger charities in the nation, and if you want to support the efforts of this charity to give Third World inhabitants self-sustaining steps upwards, this is a great charity for you.You can hold an event and donate the money to them -- all tax-exempt, since they are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.Contact them at the link below, and they can even help you put your event together with resources like PowerPoint presentations, pledge forms, and publications.

Want to see a specific charity spotlighted here at GarageSaleCow.com?Shoot us an email at blogger@garagesalecow.com and let us know!

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I can't imagine the work that these group of people have already done. It takes so much time, effort and dedication to fulfill your roles to fight and help other people. Nobody pays you, but still you put your blood, sweat and tears into it. That's what you call "men and women for others." You go beyond what is asked of you and you go to places where no one has ever been to provide assistance for people who are less fortunate.

There's so much problems and issues for the government of a country to solve on their own. What they need is the joint efforts of the public and the government to work hand in hand to slowly change societies' crooked ways and have a better system.

For example, Africa, it faces a lot of problems from basic needs such as food, water and shelter issues to education, lack of recreational facilities. If not for these private organizations, the UNITED NATIONS could have their hands full with all these issues to solve. From the donations, charities, fund raisers these organizations host, they are able to come up with amount sufficient to support their projects.

A lot of people are dying every year because of HIV and AIDS. The citizens need health teachings about safer sex practices and immediate case finding and treatment to stop the progression of the disease and save the life of an individual by doing so. I know a lot because my mom works for the social welfare and development which helps when there are floods, calamities, etc. They are the ones who give away relief goods, provide assistance to poor and underprivileged.

I admire the work that the hunger project does. They work to break the cycle of poverty. They believe that hungry people themselves are the key to ending hunger. In partnership, they unleash their vision, commitment and leadership so they can feed themselves and their families. They have such a clear vision and direction to where they're going with all their work. Not unlike other private organizations that have so much objectives but they accomplish none.

I heard about The Hunger Project from a friend of mine. I read that they empower men and women to end their own hunger. I googled their site and its - http://www.thp.org/ - by the way. I saw that they are already a big organization because of the country and continent they help like India and Africa.

All your donations are tracked and they ensure that every penny reaches to the people the need it most in those far flung areas and third world countries. They show how the raised money is spent and not just make it a secret because that's where corruption can happen, when nobody is watching. I was amazed that they already have 380,000 trained volunteers all over the world. I hope there would be more organizations like this.

Great to have people who are willing to share their blessing and are working for a cause. I just have a question... How can I join this organization? I'm from Illinois, are there branches here in the United States and where specifically. thanks

When I first read the title of this article, feeding programs and food immediately popped out in my mind. I thought that this was just another organization that gives less fortunate children and families food during the weekends and conducts educational sessions in the streets. But I was mistaken, this group has gone beyond what was expected of them. They not only focused on the physical aspect of hunger like food literally but they dealt with the problem of hunger and poverty holistically.

When all of us thought that jobs, education, money are the solutions to the issue of poverty and hunger, they though differently. They viewed the poor people as the key to success and not just the source of the problem. We were looking at the answers to our problems but we were so blind to see that. Thanks to them, they made us realize what was needed to solve these issues and make a change.

I'm also a member of a private organization, which seeks to help people rehabilitate from natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes. Most of our members are student volunteers who share the same vision of making a change in our own simple ways. We devote our time in planning and organizing donations and fun runs to raise enough money to support our cause.

We go to the evacuation centers, temporary shelters and teach young children. We hold games and conduct surveys on their living conditions to assess on which aspect could we contribute in. We're working hand in hand to slowly rebuild the dreams and lives that were shattered by these unfortunate events.

Literacy and Nutrition,as mentioned, are the things needed by the people who are facing hunger, poverty, and even education. The THP gives hope to these people and let them see the world positively, especially in third world countries. I believe that if you really have the determination to help, you can really achieve it what you are hoping for. Providing them with basic knowledge would help a lot, not just for themselves but also to the next generation to whom they can pass down what they have learned through the THP.

I belong to a third world country but I won't mention it. I just want to share a sad reality. Base on the statistical data that one of the government agencies conducted, 50% of the people interviewed in this research told them that they belong to the poor sector of our nation. They were even asked how many times do they EAT their MAJOR MEALS, a number of them said only TWICE a day, some thrice and worst is some said ONCE a day. Those individual who said that they eat ONCE a day said that they could eat TWICE if LUCK comes in with the kind of work they are in. This is a devastating truth for me and for all those who are concerned. It saddens me that there are a lot of people who are still striving to survive because the government's funds are not enough to feed these people. This is the inconvenient truth and it is also saddening that only a number of corrupt people take benefit of what must be given to my countrymen.